Book excerpt: At last, here is a definitive step-by-step guide that explains everything needed to successfully produce and distribute films overseas. Following the advice found here, filmmakers will learn to make films in foreign countries that cost less money and allow the artists greater creative control. Chapters include: scheduling and budgeting, foreign censors, accommodations and office rental, scams to avoid, foreign film festivals, working with digital equipment, and more. An in-depth study compares production costs between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, England, France, Bulgaria, South Africa, the Philippine Islands, Hong Kong, Australia, and Thailand. The author offers a sample budget for an overseas film shoot and offers tips for cutting costs on transportation, location fees, wardrobe, hair and makeup, catering, and equipment. Interviews with nine entertainment industry veterans reveal marketing and distribution trends in the American film market for foreign-made projects. And special chapters are included on writing for overseas production and on new technology as it relates to digital film and video provide essential insight to today’s filmmaker. Directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors will learn how to turn their film projects from a dream to reality.